META: Are we up? Is anyone still here?

It looks like we are up, at least for the moment. Hooray! Only four days … Geez. I am really sorry for all the hassle, aggravation, and down time. This is certainly the longest and worst outage I’ve had in the five years or so I’ve been with DreamHost, but hopefully we’re here to stay for now. Let me know if there is any weirdness going forward. I apologize again.

To make up for it, here is Yoda versus a Balrog. Because I don’t know if you’re aware, but Disney just bought Lucasfilm and the “Star Wars” franchise for $4 billion, announcing that they will be releasing Episode VII in 2015.

I’m still around, occasionally refreshing the page to see whether everything’s working.

Yeah, just heard about the whole Disney/LucasFilm thing myself. Why do I get the feeling that this whole Episode VII thing is going to end badly somehow? I’ll bet there’s already some people calling ‘ruined forever!’.
Personally I don’t see what a seventh film could add to the main Star Wars saga. The main story has been told, the EU expands on that and has grown into it’s own thing, but the end of episode VI feels like an ending. I’ll wait and see how this all unfold, though.

Hmm. Good thing I’m not one of the huge fans of the expanded universe–I can look forward to this development with cautious optimism instead of railing about all the great stories that will no longer be canon. As long as Lucas is still involved as a creative consultant (because, man, you can complain about his writing, but the entire unique look and feel of the universe is his and without that vision it just wouldn’t be Star Wars), I’ll give the movies a chance.

Although, it is hard to imagine the roles of Luke, Leia, and Han played by anybody but Hamill, Fisher, and…hah, I just totally spaced his name. The only actor whose career survived Star Wars, and I can’t remember his name to save my life! *looks it up* Ford! Right, him. Anyway, yeah, I can’t even think who I’d want to fill those roles.

Yay! I’ve had this gigantic hole in my life lately, and now HeroMachine is back to fill it. Actually, I’ve been periodically checking back, but mostly been following the development on your Facebook feed. Thanks for the updates, Jeff. Dreamhost really screwed with us these past few days.

As for the Dusney-Lucasfilm merger, I’d like to say I was cautiously optimistic, but truth is, I’m filled with a lot of trepidation regarding the announcement of a new Star Wars movie. I really question whether we need a new movie, and where anyone thinks we’re going with this one. Time will tell, but I do have worries that after viewing it, I may swear off Star Wars entirely. I could be kvetching over nothing, but I can’t help it.

It can’t be worse than Ep. 1, 2, and 3. Of course now that I think about it, these disappointing movies have made me lose all interest in anything Star Wars. I don’t even bother with the Clone Wars animated series despite all the good things I’ve heard.

I was worried when the site didn’t show up for a while… I need my superhero-making time.

The very thought of Disney making Star Wars movies completely terrifies me. Although I’m technically of the younger generation of Star Wars fans, my heart’s in the original trilogy and I hate the prequels. I also hate Disney in general, so this project is seriously scaring me.

X-stacy, I agree on the Han, Luke, and Leia roles being irreplaceable. That’s why I think they should either do the Rogue Squadron stuff if they want to stay close to the original trilogy timeline, or maybe the way later stuff with the Solo-Skywalker twins. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are of an age to play older parents, albeit REALLY older parents.

The Star Trek reboot worked because it was a reboot, starting from the beginning. I don’t see Disney doing that with the original trilogy, basically remaking them with new actors and effects. That would be kind of a waste.

GuyGenesis: Out of curiosity, what is it exactly about the prequel series that tarnished the original?

I don’t want this to turn into a rant fest, so we probably won’t go there. Everyone digs their nerdery their own way, I don’t begrudge them that, but personally I really enjoy the original trilogy. Nothing that exists outside of those three films impacts them in any way, they’re great fun. I think you have to judge any piece of art or entertainment on its own merits. Does the fact that Edvard Munch didn’t do much outside of “The Scream” make that painting less great?

But like I say, to each their own. I’d rather avoid a general trashing of anyone or any films here, focusing instead on what the next ones might be like in an ideal world.

I heartily agree. If I wanted nonfunction, I’d visit an old manager. If I wanted to hear trash talk, I’d watch a sitcom. If I wanted weirdness–could I run out of weirdness? Oh, come on. . . I’m too sleep deprived to run out of that! GO HM3!

So, let’s see. WWMD (What Would Mickey Do)? Aside from Disneyland crawling with ewoks and Jar-Jars, I mean? Will Shia Laboeuf be the new Han? Miley “Leia Montana” Cyrus? Justin SkyBieber?
Could this mean an ALL NEW Star Wars Christmas Special?
I find my own lack of faith disturbing.

I was worried that we’d see Gooferine, Sabermickey, and worst of all, a resurgence of Howard the Duck when Disney bought Marvel, but it didn’t happen and led to some great movies. So I’m going to be optimistic and choose to believe that VII will be awesome.

Jeff Hebert: The Star Trek reboot worked because it was a reboot, starting from the beginning. I don’t see Disney doing that with the original trilogy, basically remaking them with new actors and effects. That would be kind of a waste.

I sometimes think a reboot would actually be kind of cool. Rewrite all the movies so they track better continuity-wise, get rid of some of the wonky bits, really go nuts with the wire-fu and epic space battles, don’t begin with a happy ten-year-old Vader, that sort of thing. But like I said, it wouldn’t really be Star Wars without the vision of Lucas, and Lucas loves him some wonky bits. So what can you do?

Apparently, though, we do still have to worry about the recasting of the original trilogy heroes, because–at least according to the Washington Post–the new trilogy will continue the story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia beyond ‘Return of the Jedi’. If they go ahead and get the original actors and have them in mentor roles to their kids, that would be cool, but I fear that’s not what we’re going to get. Time will tell, though.

Over here, we had a lot of people lose power & other services thanks to Sandy. For some reason, I kept thinking it wasn’t surprising that you would have some sort of problems, too. I had to remind myself that you are really too far away to feel the effects if the storm.

MrVampire:
The Lucas/Disney thing is a disaster!!
We’re going to end up being given some movie like Jar Jar Prince of the Galaxy and it will have ewoks flying X-wings or some thing just as terrible.

I don’t think so…
First, it was Lucas, not Disney, that decided that “Darth Jar-Jar” would be a good idea, so I don’t think they’re going to be THAT bad!
Now, given that Disney also owns Marvel, I’d think that this could be very bad news for Dark Horse, who’ve been doing the Star Wars comics for quite some time… but, since I haven’t LIKED what Dark Horse was doing with the Star Wars comics, I’m not as worried as I might have been!
Yes, I’ld like them to focus on the post-Endor part of the Universe, but I’m not realy expecting them to consider any of the novels to be ‘canon’… While some of them have been very good, I wouldn’t want to be the one to explain to my kid why they had to kill Chewbacca!

As I understand it, Lucas will stay on as “creative consultant”, but he won’t be directing or writing. They also have (as you can see from the article) a lot of canonical material they have to keep in mind, so they’re very unlikely to just hare off on their own with something whacky.

Plus, and this is key to my optimism, don’t forget that Pixar is part of Disney now. Pixar, possibly the greatest speculative fiction movie company in history, responsible for arguably the greatest super hero movie of all time. Pixar, who knows how to inject their characters with heart and pathos. They’ve also got Brad Bird on hand, responsible for not only “The Iron Giant” but “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”.

So when I hear Disney, I don’t think Donald and Mickey and Goofy. I think Mr. Incredible, Buzz and Woody, and Up.

WillyPete: Yes, I’ld like them to focus on the post-Endor part of the Universe, but I’m not realy expecting them to consider any of the novels to be ‘canon’

I’d actually be shocked if they chucked all of the EU stuff out as non-canon after it’s been promoted that way for decades. That’s still incredibly lucrative material and given the nature of their fan base, a move like that would alienate a lot of people. And their delicious, hard-earned dollars.

There’s a lot of really good stuff out there that would be good material for a movie.

GuyGenesis:
I for one would like to see the sequel trilogy. I enjoyed both previous trilogies and both had their epic moments and faults.

Out of curiosity, what is it exactly about the prequel series that tarnished the original?

Nothing tarnished the original three for me. I still enjoy them (faults and all). Just going forward I have little faith. It’s like after seeing Matrix 2, I didn’t even bother to see Matrix 3 or get into the video games based around the sequels. I still love the original Matrix and it remains on my top 5 scifi movie list, but the second movie cooled my interest for anything new in that universe.

Of course this only relates to the current discussion in that I have little interest in any future Star Wars movies at the moment, but I have to admit this could change if the right people were involved. Actually I’m starting to feel a glow inside my tummy as a little bird whispers “Joss Whedon” in my ear. WHAT THE HANK HILL!!! I’m excited again!

An additional question: Whose involvement would make you excited about the new Star Wars?

I am happy that this has happened! What a way to inject life and “a new hope” into and iconic brand. I don’t think Disney will cut off any EU stories and royally piss off the fan base who do hold some power in this deal. Just look at all the feedback that has developed all in one day. As an older, original Star Wars fan, I’m looking forward to going to the movies with my sons in the near future to see the continuing adventures of a galaxy far, far away.

dblade: Nothing tarnished the original three for me. I still enjoy them (faults and all). Just going forward I have little faith. It’s like after seeing Matrix 2, I didn’t even bother to see Matrix 3 or get into the video games based around the sequels. I still love the original Matrix and it remains on my top 5 scifi movie list, but the second movie cooled my interest for anything new in that universe.

Of course this only relates to the current discussion in that I have little interest in any future Star Wars movies at the moment, but I have to admit this could change if the right people were involved. Actually I’m starting to feel a glow inside my tummy as a little bird whispers “Joss Whedon” in my ear. WHAT THE HANK HILL!!! I’m excited again!

An additional question: Whose involvement would make you excited about the new Star Wars?

Joss Whedon would be awesome for this! Buffy the Vampire Slayer was my favorite show as a teenager and I thought he was amazing for The Avengers! Lindelof would be awesome, too!

As for the comments on the new movie, I think I am going to take a stand and say I am excited for Episode VII. I’ve always thought it was such a shame that they never got into the later stories (Expanded Universe, of course) and I think that Disney is awesome when it comes to bringing media to film. The Avengers was awesome and I have had no complaints with Marvel films since they took over. It’s gonna be hard for them to choose a storyline, however. There are so many to choose from. As most everyone has mentioned, Han, Leia, and Luke are too old now to really play their roles (except as MUCH older versions of themselves) so it is going to be hard to see how they are going to work that. But overall, I am extremely excited about this!

And to answer the challenge of the day, I don’t know! I mean the Balrog is huge and fiery and all sorts of badness! But Yoda is crafty, really strong in the Force, and apparently an expert duelist! It’s like asking who would defeat who, God or the Devil? If I have to pick one though I’d go with Yoda. Just cause I love it when the good guys win!

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